Gas-engine-control device



Feb. 22,1927.

- J. M. CRAIG GAS ENGINE CONTROL DEVICE Filed April 24. 1925 INVENTOR BW Q ATTORNEY 35 r izn'vention. It will be understood that other Patenta& Feb. 22, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE..

JOI-II T M. CRAIG, OF OGDEN, UTAH.

GAS-ENGINE-CONTROL DEVICE.

Application filed. April 24, 1925. SeriaI No. 25,689.

The control dev-ice involves the use of i fluid pressuremechanism in connection with an electrical circuit maker for control'ling the gnition circuit of an internal combustion engine, especially adapted t'or use on y automotive vehicles. r

My `nvention contemplates mechanism actuatedunder influence of fluid pressure,

` as orfinstancefrom theexhaust gases of the internal oombustion engine, for electrically cutting out or suspending the operation of the ign iton system of-the engine or motor when a predeterm-ined maximum speed has r been, attained by the motor orengine.

Means are provided whereby the control' devoe .may be adjusted or set to vary the predetermnedmaximum speed at which the mechanism becomes operative to suspend the Signition, and the mechanism is adapted to automatically ,restore the igniton system to I operative condition When the excessive speed has been reduced to 'the predetermined maximum. i i

,The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as willhereinafter be more fully set 'f'orth and claimed.

:In the accompanying .drawings I ha e illustrated one complete example of the hyscal embodiment of my invention wherem the parts are combined and arranged m a connection with the exh'aust 'manifold of an internal combust on engine and according to one` mode so ?far devised and successful'ly 'operated according to the principles of my means may be utilized to supply the fluid pressure' to 'the control device and changes and alterations may be made therein within the scope of my claims without departng p from the spirit of my invention.

, 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical wiring of the device in combination with the ignition system ot an internal combustion engine.

In the present exemplification of my invention the device is shown connected with the wali l of the exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine in such manner as to receive exhaust gases from the engine *or motor for the operation of the device,

For this purpose I utilize a nipple 2 threaded into the wall 1 of the exhaust mani- 'old and a regulating, manually operated, valve device, indicated as a whole by the numeral 3 is connected to the nipple.

At the other side of the regulating Valvedevice I employ a coupling 4 'and an elbow 5 in which a bushing '6 is threaded, and on the bushing a tubular structure or pipe 7 is threaded, to form a pressure chamber in communication with the eXhaust manifol'd and adapted to receive fluid pressure 'therefrom. y p

The tubular structure or pipe 7 performs the functions of .a cylinder and these parts are threa'ded together and are fashioned in suitable lengths and of proper dimensions and shapes to maintain the cylinder 'as an upright pressure chamber in which a buoyant fioat device 8 is supported in normal position on the .annular shoulder 9 formed by the top edge of the bushing 6.

The fioat, which is fashioned in suitable manner, is designed to perform the functions of a movable contact member fora circuit maker and brealrer, and tor this purpose is provided with a metallic conducting cap 10 affixed therein in approved mode. The 'stationary contact members of the cire cuit maker and breaker are carried in the upper end of the cylinder 7 in the upper open end of which is threaded a bushing 11 in which is fixed a h'older or block 12 of insulating material or non-Conducting material and provided with a vent opening 12' extendingvfrom the interior of the pressure chamber of the cylinder to the atmosphere.

The conductor-cap 10 of the fioat is designed to co-act with a pair of s'paced stationary contact points 13 and 14: for completing an electric circuit that will pass through these members when they are in contact.

Under influence ot the exhaust gas pressure from the manitold 1 and the intervening members of the control device, the float 8 will be lifted to cause contact between the members 10 and 13 and 14 to close the normally open control circuit of the control device, which includes terminals 15 and 16. v

The passage of gas through the valve device 3 is regulated by means of a manually operated valve head 17 which is adapted to regulate the opening of the complementary Valve seat 18 which is fashioned with a normally open by-pass or duet 19 for the exhaust gases to pass through from the exhaust manitold.

In the diagrammatic Figure 3 I have shown an example of the application of my invention to the ignition system of an internal combustion engine which includes a coil 20 and a distributer 21 for the four spark plugs indicated at 22 used in connection with the engine cylinders, the ignition circuit being indicated by the numeral 23.

For the electric circuit of the control device I employ a low tension wire 2 1 connected to the coil 20 and to the battery 26 and the wire is grounded at 27 to the rear portion of the engine or to the :trame of the automotive Vehicle in suitable manner. The control deviee is connected with the ignition system or circuit by wire 28 from the terminal 16, and the wire 29 from the terminal 15 is grounded on the engine, as indicated in Figure 3.

In operation when the valve 17 is set to permit flow of a predetermined pressure of exhaust gases to the chamber 7,

'and the eXhaust gases reach such a pressure, the fioat and its contact head 10 are lifted to cause contact between the head and the stationary heads 13 and 1 1 of the terminals 15 and 16. An electrical connection is thus established which short-circuits or cuts out the ignition circuit 23 as iny dicated in Figure 3 'for the purpose ot susrestore the ignition circuit to operative condition.

To prevent the automotive vehicle driver from entirely closing the outlet from the exhaust manitold through the regulating device I utilize the by-pass or duct 19 of the Valve which is constantly open to permit a certain amount of fluid pressure in the chamber 7 at a given rate of speed of the engine.

. lt will be apparent that by increasing the opening ot' the regulating valve 17 to permit passage of increased Volume and pressure of gases through the control device the slower will be the resulting speed ot the engine, and that by reducing the opening of the valve 17, the greater will be the speed possible ot attainment by the engine.

The valve may be adjusted to suit' various speeds of the engine but should be only within a range that is below the maximum speed permitted by traffic regulations. The driver may thus adjust the valve 17 from the maximum speed allowed on highways to the lesser speeds permitted in cities.

While I have shown a manually operated regulating valve 17 it will be understood that the valve may automatically be operated by connection with a speedometer or other accessory of the automotive vehicle suitable tor the pur Jose.

Having thus fully escribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- The combination with an internal combustion engine having an exhaust manifold andanelectric ignition system, of a manually adjust-able valve connected with said manitold and a pressure cylinder connected with said valve, a head in the cylinder having spaced stationary contact points, a float in the cylinder having a complenentary contact point, and electrical connections whereby the electric ignition system is short-circuited when said points are in contact and the ignition system restored when said points are subsequently disengaged.

JOHN M. CRAIG. 

